Loom



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ATTORNEYSv June 1, 1937. w. F. BIRD ET AL LOOM Filed April 14, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS: Wfwarfh Wflif'd 1.

Wiiazn RrHZwwn, WTORNEYS.

Jung 1, 1937.

w. F. BIRD ET AL 2,082,321

LOOM

Filed April 14, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 m A i a c m n a "J. E 0 4 F a a I 3 Q {3 A Q i) h 2 z X 8L; 5 s g a fi n m 3 :1

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June 1, 1937. w. F. BIRD ET AL LOOM 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 14, 1934 L x Y NH NvNRN g mmvrogs;

Wtwyrih FBI/T1134 a BY TVLZ/ Wilma/Ton 1Q Q RNEYS.

June 1, 1937. w. F. BIRD ET AL LOOM '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 14, 1934 June 1, 1937. w. F. BIRD ET AL LOOM Filed April 14, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 S INVENTORS:

wmam/ I? w Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE R. Hewton,

Philadelphia,

Pa., assignors to Collins & Aikman Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application April 14, 1934, Serial No. 720,540

16 Claims.

This invention relates to plain looms, as well as to multi-shed looms such as are used in the weaving of double pile fabrics.

In connection with looms generally, it is an object of our invention to secure, through refinements in lay mechanism, picking mechanism, and shuttle box mechanism, smoother concerted action between the various inter-related moving parts of the looms, so that the looms can be operated at much higher speeds than heretofore possible with attainment of corresponding increase in fabric production.

This desideratum we attain in part, as hereinafter fully disclosed, by construction of the shuttle boxes separate from the lay and stationarily mounting them at opposite sides of the looms with resultant decrease in the weight and the bulk of the lay and in the effort necessary to operate it; and by actuating the lay with determination of dwell periods between beat strokes, so that ample time is afforded for passage of the shuttles between the stationary boxes incident to high speed operation.

Our invention is further directed toward provision, in connection with either a plain or a multi-shed loom having the aforementioned attributes, of improved protector means, whereby, in the event that the shuttles fail to clear the reed of the lay or to fully enter the shuttle boxes incident to being shot across the loom, the lay is instantaneously and automatically disconnected from its actuating means and held in retracted position, and the loom immediately thereafter smoothly and quickly stopped with consequent prevention of warp yarn rupture and shuttle smashes, and avoidance of shuttle marks or tears in the fabric.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will be manifest from the detailed description which follows of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I is a partial plan-sectional view of a double pile fabric loom conveniently embodying the present improvements.

Fig. II is a central longitudinal sectional view of the loom taken as indicated by the arrows II-II in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows IIIIII in Figs. I and II.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows IV-IV in Fig. I and drawn to a larger scale with the lay in its full retracted position.

Fig. V is a view like Fig. IV showing the lay in advanced or beat-up position.

Figs. VI and VII are views similar to Fig. IV,

but taken as indicated by the arrows VIVI in Fig. I and showing how the lay is disconnected from its actuating means in the event of failure of either of the shuttles to completely clear the reed.

With more detailed reference to these illustrations, the numeral It comprehensively designates the lay of the loom, which is confined to reciprocatory movement in a straight plane at a slight inclination to the horizontal, see Figs. IV-VII. In its construction, the lay embodies a pair of laterally spaced end frames II with yoke-like frontal portions l2 and rearwardly and downwardly sloping longitudinally-slotted extremities I3; parallel transverse angle section rails I4 and I5 which connect the upper and lower arms of the yoke portions of the end frames; and a reed 16 which is perpendicularly supported in vertical position between said end frames. For the sake of lightness and to facilitate high speed operation of the lay ill, the end frames ll of the latter are preferably formed from aluminum or the like. As usual, the dents of the reed l6 are traversed by warp threads T, which are controlled by suitable harness (not illustrated) for the formation, in this instance, of upper and lower sheds S, S, incident to the weaving of double pile fabric conventionally indicated at F. The slotted portions I3 of the end frames ll of the lay Ill, it will be observed, are occupied by slides I! which are in turn longitudinally slotted as at l8 to engage swivel blocks l9 free on a transverse shaft 2!! (corresponding to the crank shaft of an ordinary loom), said shaft being journalled in suitable bearings 2| on the side frames 22 of the loom, see Fig. I. Projecting forwardly from pendant anchorage lugs 23 at the fronts of the end frames II of the lay ID in parallelism with the sloping slotted portions I3 of said frames are supporting rods 24 which slidingly engage fixed guide brackets 25 reaching inwardly from the side frames 22 of the loom. Obviously, as a consequence of the described construction, the lay I0 is confined as aforementioned, to reciprocation at an angle to the horizontal, with the reed I6 maintained always in ture vertical position.

Reciprocatory movement is imparted to the lay ID by rotary cam devices 26 which are duplicated at each side of the loom. Each such rotary cam device comprises a pair of opposing disks 21, 21 which are exact duplicates of each other and. which, per se, are preferably of the construction shown in Figs. I-VII of U. S. Patent Number 1,980,527, granted to William R. Hewton, one of the present applicants, on Nov. 13, 1934. As, in the patent application just referred to, each of the disks 21 has, in its inner side face, an eccentric groove 28 which is mergent with a concentric groove 29 through transverse inclines 30 and 3| indicated by line shading in Fig. V, the corresponding inclines of the opposing disks of each rotary cam device being complementary and contiguously allocated relatively. The slide associated with each end frame I of the lay l0 carries a transverse follower pin 32 whereof the ends are adapted to engage respectively with the complementary cam grooves of the opposing disks 21 of the rotary cam devices 26, and actuated exactly as in the previous patent application. Normally, the follower slides II are locked against relative movement in the slotted portions of the end frames H of the lay It] by latch members 33 which are respectively pivoted to the slides at 34, and formed with shoulders 35 that engage opposing shoulders provided by wear pieces 36 of hardened steel or the like set into said end frames. As shown in Fig. IV, the latch members 33 are normally maintained yieldingly in engagement with the wear pieces 36 by upwardly spring-impelled plungers 31 socketed in the end frames ll of the lay III, said wear pieces being necessary by virtue of the relative softness of the aluminum from which the lay frames are made. The characteristics of the rotary cam devices 26 are such that when the latch members 33 are in locking engagement with shoulder pieces 36 on the side frames ll of the lay ID, a beat stroke is imparted to the lay during every other revolution of the cam shaft 28 while the followers 32 travel in the eccentric groove 28 of the cam as shown in Fig. IV. During intervening rotations of the shaft 28 with the follower engaging the concentric grooves 29 in the cam disks 21, the lay I8 is caused to dwell in the retracted position shown in Fig. IV. This action continues during the normal operation of the loom, with attendant passage of the shuttles (which are indicated at 38 and 39 in Figs. I, II, IV and VI) simultaneously through the upper and lower sheds S, S

. for which ample time is afforded due to the dwell periods of the lay in the retracted position as aforesaid. In this connection it is to be understood that any of the other forms of rotary cam devices shown in my patent application supra may be substituted for the form which has been chosen for convenience of illustration herein. The cam shaft 29 is constantly rotated in the direction indicated through a spur gear pinion 40 at one end thereof (Figs. I-III) which meshes with an idler pinion 40a driven by a spur gear 4| on the usual lower shaft 42 of the loom, which latter shaft is suitablyjournalled in the side frames 22. Affixed to the spur gear wheel 4| is a bevel gear wheel 43 which is driven, in turn, by a bevel pinion 44 on a power shaft 45, whereon is freely mounted a spur gear wheel 46 that meshes With a pinion 41 on the shaft of a driving motor conventionally shown at 48 in Figs. I and II. The gear wheel 46 can be connected and disconnected from the power shaft by means of a suitable slide clutch 49 which is subject to both manual and automatic control as will be readily understood from further description.

Our invention departs further from conventional practice in that the shuttle boxes indicated at 50, 5| are stationary, instead of being carried, as ordinarily, at opposite ends of the lay II). From Fig. III of the drawings, it will be noted that the shuttle boxes 58, 5| have in this instance two superposed shuttle receptacles 50a, 50b and 5|a,

5|b respectively, and that said boxes are supported at their inner ends by the side frames 22 of the loom, and at their outer ends by standards 52 and 53 reaching up from the floor.

The picking mechanism of the loom, see Fig. III, includes a pair of picking sticks 54, whereof the bottom ends are pivoted to fulcrum brackets 56, 51 fixedly secured to the floor at opposite sides of the loom adjacent the side frames 22 of the latter. The upper ends of the picker sticks 54, 55, see Figs. I and III, engage pickers 54a, 54b and 55a, 55b respectively associated with the shuttle receptacles 50a, 56b and 5|a, 5|b of the two shuttle boxes 50 and 5 i. As shown, the pickers 54a, 54b and 55a. 55b are individually guided for sliding movement on fixed rods 58 and 59 extending longitudinally of the backs of the shuttle receptacles 50a, 53b and 5|a, 5!!) of the shuttle boxes 50 and 5| in line with slots 60 and 6| in said receptacles through which the stick engaging portions of the pickers 54a, 54b and 55a, 55b project.

Instead of throwing the shuttles 38 and 39 simultaneously from one side to the other of the loom as would ordinarily be done, we provide for throwing tlieindividual shuttles concurrently from opposite sides of the loom. Accordingly, it will be observed from Figs. I, II and III that the shuttle 38 occupies the upper receptacle 50a of the shuttle box 59 when the shuttle 39 occupies the lower box 5|b of the shuttle box 5|, and vice-versa with regard to the shuttle box receptacles 5 lb and 58a. In order to concurrently actuate the picker sticks 54 and 55 to accomplish the above, means are provided as follows: Mounted on the lower shaft 42 of the loom are clamp arms 62 and 63 which respectively carry pairs of picker balls 64 and 65 in diametric relation, the picker balls of the two brackets occupying corresponding positions circumferentially. After common practice in the art, the picker balls 64 and 65 are wiped by bat wing cams 66 and 6! on rock shafts 68 and 69 which are journallecl in bearings 10 and H on the side frames 22 of the loom, and which have upward arms 12 and 13 connected by straps 14 and 15 with the picker sticks 54 and 55. The ratio of the pinions 40, 40a and the coordinated gear wheel 4| is such that the cam shaft 20 is rotated four times for every single revolution of the bottom or picker actuating shaft 42. picker sticks 54 and 55 receive an impulse during every other revolution of the cam shaft 20, when the lay I9 is dwelling in its retracted position. Throwing of the shuttles 38 and 39 simultaneously from opposite sides of the loom has the effect of balancing the picking operation with consequent reduction of shocks and strains. This method of shuttle picking has further advantages which will be pointed out later. As ordinarily, the shuttle checks 16a, 16b and Tla and 11b at the fronts of the shuttle receptacles 50a and 50b and 5|a and 5th of the boxes 53 and 5| are pivotally attached at their outer ends and pressed inward by flat leaf springs 78 for capacity to yield incident to the entry of the shuttles 38 and 39 into the receptacles on the one hand, and on the other hand to hold the shuttles yieldingly within said receptacles.

The protector means which we have provided for automatically disconnecting the lay from its actuating means and for stopping the loom in the event thateither of the shuttles 38 or 39 fails to clear the reed I6 of the lay Ill or to fully enter the shuttle boxes 50 and 5| at opposite sides of the loom, includes a transverse rock shaft 19 which is journalled in suitable bearings 80 fas- Accordingly, the

tened to the bottom angle bar I5 of the lay. Secured to this rock shaft 19 at its ends, are arms 8I which are joined by links 82 to corresponding arms 83 independently swingable on pivot axes 84 supported by the end frames I I of the lay I0. The pivot studs 85 by which the links. 82 are connected to the arms 83, extend laterally over, and rest upon the forward or free ends of the latch members 33 as shown in Fig. IV. Also secured to the rock shaft I9 somewhat inward of its ends are fingers 86 which are adapted to react with shoulders 81 on fixed stops 88 reaching inward from a cross girt 89 adjacent the front end of the loom. Normally, the fingers 88 are held above the level of the stops 88 when the latch members 33 are in their operative position as shown in Figs. IV and V. Journalled in suitable bearings 90 on the top of the girt 89 are two aligned, transversely-arranged rock shafts 9| and 92. At their outer ends these rock shafts 9| and 92 are provided with upstanding arms 93 and 94 which are engaged by horizontal thrust rods 95a, 95b and 96a, 96b with guidance in fixed slide bearing brackets 91 and 98 supported by the side frames 22 of the loom, said thrust rods reaching inwardly into contact with the shuttle cheeks 19a, 18b and 11a, 11b of the shuttle boxes and 5| respectively. The upstanding arms 93 and 94 are yieldingly maintained in contact with the outer ends of the thrust rods 95a, 95b and 96a, 96b by means of tension springs 99 and I00, which, at their lower ends, are secured to fixed anchorages on the girt 89, and, which. at their upper ends, are connected to hook arms |0| and I02 on the rock shafts 9| and 92 respectively. The inner ends of the rock shafts 9| and 92 extend into close contiguity, and secured to them are lever arms I03 and I04 which are coupled, by means of drop links I05, I08, with the tail portions of rearwardlyreaching daggers I01, I08 which are fulcrumed for independent movement on a common axis pin I09 supported by a clevised bracket arm ||0 of the girt 89. The free ends of the daggers I01 and I08 are pointed for capacity to react with a depending V-notched bunter arm I I I on the rock shaft 19 carried by the lay I0.

Normally, during the operation of the loom, as the shuttles 38 and 39 simultaneously leave the boxes 50 and 5| while the lay I0 is dwelling in retracted position, the thrust rods 95a, 95b and 98a, 9%, follow the shuttle checks 16a, 16b and 11a, 11b inward by reason of pressure exerted upon them by arms 93, 94 through influence of the springs 99 and I00 upon the rock shafts 9|, 92. As a consequence of the attendant rocking of the shafts 9|, 92, the daggers I01, I08 on said shafts are caused to dip momentarily during the flight of the shuttles 38 and 39, but when said shuttles respectively reach the shuttle boxes at the opposite sides of the loom, the parts of the protector mechanism are restored to their normal position without having effected any change in the operation of the loom.

Reaching laterally outward from the righthand side frame 22 (Figs. I and II) of the loom is a fixed arm ||2 which supports a vertical stud I|3 whereon is freely mounted a bell crank lever H4 whereof the short arm ||4a is adjustably coupled by means of a connecting rod I I5 with the operating arm H0 for the clutch 49 hereinbefore referred to, said clutch arm being subject to the pull of a tension spring III. The longer extremity |I4b of the bell crank lever I|4 extends into engagement with the starting handle N8 of the loom, see Figs. I and II. As usual, the starting handle I I8 is shiftable in the longitudinal slot I I9 of the knock-off bar I20 at the front of the loom. The guide slot I I9 for the starting handle I I8 has a lateral notch I2I by which said handle is normally detained in on position with the bell crank lever I I4 looked as shown in Fig. I against the pull of the clutch spring III and with the clutch 49 in engagement with the gear wheel 46 whereby the required motion is communicated to the cam shaft 20 and to the other operative parts of the loom. Also freely mounted on the vertical stud N3 of the bracket arm I I2 is a trip member I22 also in the form of a bell crank lever, whereof the arm designated I22a has its end reaching inward to the province of the trigger detent 33 on the lay I0 at the corresponding side of the loom, while the other extremity of said bell crank trip lever has its end laterally turned as at I22b and engaging the back of the starting handle I I8.

The operation of the lay protector mechanism is as follows:

Let it be assumed that in Figs. VI and VII. the shuttle 38 is detained in its passage through the shed S or therefore fails to fully enter the shuttle box 5| toward which it was thrown. Under these circumstances, the pivoted shuttle checks 11a, 11b of both receptacles 5m. 5Ib of the shuttle box 5| will remain in their inward or closed positions with the result that the rock shaft 92, instead of being returned to its normal position as ordinarily after having been actuated in a manner hereinbefore explained, will remain in the moved position shown in Figs. VI and VII. Consequently, as the lay I0 starts to move forward from its retracted position on the next beat stroke, the raised dagger I08 on the axis pin I09 will encounter the hunter arm I II of the rock shaft E9 on the lay. Due to the swinging of the rock shaft I9 thereby induced, the arms 83 on the end frames I I of the lay will be swung downward under the pull of the arms 8| on said rock shaft and the connecting links 82, with consequent depression of the outer ends of the latch members 33 by the laterally projecting axis studs 85 of said links. Such depression of the latch members 33 results in disengagement of their shoulders 35 from the shoulders 36 on the end frames II of the lay whereby the lay is disconnected from the follower slides I'I. Also, attendant upon rocking of the shaft 19 as just explained, the stop fingers 88 on the latter are depressed as shown in Fig. VI to engage the shouldered abutments 81. Thus, as the rotation of actuating cam devices 26 continues. the follower slides H are moved idly forward in the longitudinally slotted portions I3 of the end frames I of the lay I0, while the latter is detained in its retracted position by the now interengaged stop fingers 85 and abutments 87 with consequent avoidance of injury to the warp yarns T or the reed I5 by the trapped shuttle 30. As the slides I! continue to advance idly as just explained, with the latch members 33 held depressed against the spring pushers 31 by the pivot studs 85 of the links 82, the lowered end of the right hand latch member 33 (Fig. I) eventually strikes the arm I22a of the bell crank trip lever I22 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. VII. By induced move ment of the trip lever I22, the starting handle H8 is displaced from the notch I2I of the slot H9 in the knock-off bar I20, and said handle is thereupon swung by its spring connection with the framework of the loom, leftward in the slot I I9. This results in the release of the bell crank lever ||4 which is thereby turned clockwise in Ill Fig. I through the medium of the connecting red I I5 under the pull of the spring I II, with attendant actuation of the clutch 49 and disconnection of the gear wheel 46 from the power shaft 45 to stop the loom. A similar sequence of events will obviously obtain in case the shuttle 39 is detained in the lower shed S or in case said shuttle fails to clear the reed I6 of the lay or to fully enter either of the shuttle boxes 56 or 5|. After removal of the obstructing shuttle, the loom may be restarted by shifting the handle H8 back into re-engagement with the detaining notch I2I in the slot IIS of the knock-off bar I20. Incident to this action, the bell crank lever H4 7 Will be swung counterclockwise, and, in drawing upon the connecting rod H5, causes actuation of the clutch 49 and consequent re-eonnection of the gear wheel 45 to the power shaft 55.

Since the disconnection of the lay Ill from its actuating means occurs when said lay is in retracted position and before it has attained any appreciable momentum, the shock imparted to the framework. of the loom by coaction of the stop fingers 86 with the fixed abutments 88, is of necessity very slight-421 fact negligible in its effect. Our novel protector mechanism thus con stitutes a marked improvement over prevalent forms of protector means, whereinv during stop page of the loom, the framework of the loom is called upon tosuddenly take the full effect of the inertia of the lay on its heat stroke, while the lay actuating shaft is at the same time severely strained or bent.

Upon restarting of the loom, the follower slides I! are retracted under the influence of the rotary cam devices 26, and, through friction with the side frames I I of the lay, said lay is dragged rear ward until it is arrested by vertical leaf spring stop arms I23 hieh are fixedly secured to the framework of loom, said arms being provided at their free upper ends with bumper pads 124 of leather or fiber engage with adjustable screw studs I25 at the rear ends of the lay frames. During ti s sl ght rearward movement of the lay I0, the dagger IDS springs clear of the hunter arm III on the lay Iii, With attendant lifting of the stop fingers 8? from the fixed shouldered abutments 81. As the rearward movement of the slides I'I continues with lay I5 now arrested by the leaf spring arms I123, the latch members 33 eventually relock with the shoulders 36 in the slots of the lay frames II with consequent resumption of normal actuation of the lay thereafter by the rotary cam devices 26.

If the protector mechanism should for any reason fail to function with the shuttles caught partway in either of the shuttle boxes 50, 5|, severe damage to the loom and the shuttles will be prevented in view of the yoked formation of the frontal reed supporting portions I2 of the side frames II of the la, since, as shown, the recessions of said yoked portions are equivalent in depth to the full reciproeative movement of the lay. Thus the worst that could happen under contingency last noted, is the smashing of the end of the reed I6.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a loom, a reciprocating lay, a rotary actuating cam for the lay; a follower engaging the rotary cam; a shuttle; a slidable releasable latch means normally locking the lay to the follower engaging the rotary cam; and means operative in the event of failure of the shuttle to clear the reed of the lay, to automatically release the latch means and thereby disconnect the lay operatively from the cam follower while in the retracted position.

2. In a loom, a shuttle; a lay confined to reciprocatory movement in a straight, substantially horizontal plane; a rotary cam for actuating the lay; a follower slidingly incorporated with the lay and engaging the rotary cam; a releasable latch means normally locking the lay to the follower; and means operative in the event of failure of the shuttle to clear the reed of the lay, to release the latch means and thereby disconnect the lay operatively from the follower while in the retracted position.

3. In a loom, a shuttle; a lay confined to reciprocatory movement in a straight substantially horizontal plane; a rotary cam for actuating the lay; a follower slidingly incorporated with the lay and engaging the rotary cam; latch means for normally locking the lay to the follower; and protector mechanism including means operative in the event of failure of the shuttle to clear the reed of the lay, to release the latch means and thereby operatively disconnect the lay from the follower, while in the retracted position, and concurrently-operated means for thereafter holding the lay in retracted position.

4. In a loom; a shuttle; a lay confined to reciprocatory movement in a straight substantially horizontal plane; a rotary cam for actuating the lay; a follower slidingly incorporated with the lay and engaging the rotary actuating cam; releasable latch means for normally locking the lay to the follower; and protector mechanism including means operative in the event of failure of the shuttle to clear the reed of the lay, to trip the latch means and thereby operatively disconnect the lay from the cam follower while in the retracted position, and concurrently-operated means to hold the lay against moving forward incident to idle advance of the follower.

5. In a loom; a shuttle; a lay confined to reeiprocatory movement in a straight, substantially horizontal plane; a rotary cam for actuating the lay; a follower slidingly incorporated with the lay and engaging the rotary actuating cam; a latch member on the follower for normally locking the lay to said follower; and protector mechanism including means operative in the event of failure of the shuttle to clear the reed of the lay, to release the latch member and thereby operatively disconnect the lay from the cam follower when in the retracted position, concurrently operated means to hold the lay against moving forward incident to idle advance of the follower, and means operated by the latch member as the follower continues to move forward to effect stoppage of the loom.

6. In a loom, a shuttle; a lay confined to reciprocatory movement in a straight, substantially horizontal plane; a rotary actuating cam for the lay; a follower slidingly coordinated with the lay and engaging the rotary actuating cam; a spring urged latch member normally locking the lay to the follower; protector mechanism including means operative in the event of failure of the shuttle to clear the reed of the lay, to trip the latch member and thereby operatively disconnect the lay from the cam follower while in the retracted position, concurrently operated means to prevent the lay from moving forward incident to ensuing idle advance of the follower, and means operated incident to such advance of the follower to stop the loom; and means operative upon removal of the obstructing shuttle and restarting of the loom, to hold the lay against Gil movement as the follower is retracted by the rotary actuating cam and thereby permit the latch member to automatically relock the lay to said follower.

'7. In a loom, drive means; a starting handle for controlling the drive means; means whereby the handle may be locked in its operative position with the loom running; a shuttle; a lay confined to reciprocatory movement in a straight substantially horizontal plane; a rotary cam for actuating the lay; a follower slidably incorporated with the lay and engaging the rotary actuating cam; latch means for normally locking the lay to the follower; and protector mechanism including means automatically operative in the event of failure of the shuttle to clear the reed of the lay, to trip the latch means and thereby operatively disconnect the lay from the cam follower while in the retracted position, and means operated incident to idle advance of the follower to release the starting handle aforesaid for automatic stoppage of the loom.

8. In a loom, stationary shuttle boxes respectively at opposite sides of the loom; a shuttle; a lay movable back and forth in the interval between the shuttle boxes; actuating means for the lay including a rotary cam with mergent eccentric and concentric grooves, a follower releasably connected to the lay and adapted to successively follow the eccentric and concentric grooves of the cam during alternate revolutions of the latter with determination, between beat strokes, of dwell periods of the lay in retracted position for passage of the shuttle; and protector means automatically operative upon failure of the shuttle to clear the reed of the lay or to fully enter one of the shuttle boxes incident to being thrown across the loom, to disconnect the lay from the follower While in retracted position.

9. In a double shuttle multi-shed loom, a pair of shuttles; stationary multiple shuttle boxes at opposite sides of the loom respectively affording receptacles for individual shuttles assigned to the upper and lower sheds formed by the warp yarns incident to the weaving of the double pile fabric; a lay movable back and forth in the interval between the stationary shuttle boxes; actuating means for the lay including a rotary cam with mergent eccentric and concentric grooves, and a follower releasably connected to the lay and adapted to successively follow the eccentric and concentric groove of the cam during alternate revolutions of the latter, with determination between beat strokes, of dwell periods with the lay in retracted position for passage of the shuttles; and protector means automatically operative, upon failure of one or both of the shuttles to clear the reed of the lay or to fully enter the shuttle boxes, to disconnect the lay from the follower while in retracted position.

10. In a loom for weaving double pile fabric; stationary multiple shuttle boxes at opposite sides of the loom respectively affording receptacles for shuttles individually assigned to the upper and lower sheds formed by the warp yarns incident to the weaving of the double pile fabric; shuttle checks associated with said boxes; picker means for throwing the shuttles concurrently in opposite directions from the respective boxes; a lay confined to reciprocatory movement in a straight, substantially-horizontal plane; a rotary actuating cam for the lay; a follower having sliding engagement with a horizontal slot in the lay and engaging the rotary actuating cam; a

,= spring urged latch member normally locking the lay to. the follower; protector means subject to the individual control of the shuttle checks respectively associated with the receptacles of the two shuttle boxes, and means automatically operated by the shuttle checks upon failure of either of the shuttles to fully enter the particular shuttle receptacles toward which they were thrown, to trip the latch member for disconnection of the lay from the follower when in retracted position.

11. In a loom for weaving double pile fabric, stationary shuttle boxes at opposite sides of the loom respectively affording receptacles for shuttles individually assigned to the upper and lower sheds formed by the warp threads incident to the weaving of the double pile fabric; shuttle checks associated with the shuttle boxes; picker means for throwing the shuttles concurrently in opposite directions from the respective shuttle boxes; a lay movable back and forth in the interval between the stationary shuttle boxes; means for actuating the lay; means releasably connecting the lay normally to its actuating means; and protector mechanism including dag gers supported for independent pivotal movement on a fixed part of the loom and individually controlled by the shuttle checks respectively associated with the shuttle receptacles of the two shuttle boxes, and a bunter arm mounted on a rock shaft carried by the lay and operatively coordinated with the releasable lay connecting means.

12. In a loom for weaving double pile fabric, stationary shuttle boxes at opposite sides of the loom respectively affording receptacles for shuttles individually assigned to the upper and lower sheds formed by the warp threads incident to the weaving of the double fabric; shuttle checks individually associated with the boxes; picker means for throwing the shuttles concurrently in opposite directions from the respective shuttle boxes; a lay movable back and forth in the interval between the stationary shuttle boxes; actuating means for the lay; releasable means connecting the lay normally to its actuating means; protector mechanism including daggers supported for independent pivotal movement on a fixed part of the loom and individually controlled by the shuttle checks respectively associated with the receptacles of the shuttle boxes, a rock shaft carried by the lay, a bunter on said rock shaft, and means operated by the bunter to trip the means releasably connecting the lay to its actuating means; and means for stopping the lo-om immediately upon disconnection of the lay from its actuating means.

13. In a loom for weaving double pile fabric; stationary shuttle boxes at opposite sides of the loom respectively affording receptacles for shuttles individually assigned to the upper and lower sheds formed by the warp yarns incident to the weaving of the double pile fabric; shuttle checks associated with the boxes; picker means for throwing the shuttles concurrently in opposite directions from the respective boxes; a lay confined to reciprocatory movement in a straight, substantially horizontal plane; a rotary actuating cam for the lay; a follower slidingly coordinated with the lay and engaging the rotary actuating cam; a spring urged latch member pivotally connected to the follower and normally looking the lay to said follower; and protector mechanism including daggers supported for independent pivotal movement on a fixed part of the loom and subject to the independent control of the Cal shuttle checks associated with the receptacles of the two shuttle boxes, a rock shaft with a hunter arm carried by the lay, a pivoted arm connected with the hunter shaft and having a lateral stud to engage the free end of the latch member aforesaid.

14. In a loom for weaving double pile fabric, stationary shuttle boxes at opposite sides of the m respectively affording receptacles for shuttles individually assigned to the upper and lower sheds formed by the warp yarns incident to the weaving of the double pile fabric; shuttle checks associated with respective boxes; picker means for throwing the shuttles concurrently in opposite directions from the respective boxes; a lay confined to reciprocatory movement in a straight, substantially horizontal plane in the interval between the stationary shuttle boxes; a rotary actuating cam for the lay; a follower slidingly coordinated with the lay and engaging the rotary actuating cam; a spring urged latch member pivoted on the follower and normally locking the lay to said follower; and protector mechanism including daggers supported for independent pivotal movement on a fixed part of the loom and independently controlled by the shuttle checks associated with the receptacles of the respective shuttle boxes, a rock shaft with a hunter arm carried by the lay, a pivoted arm also carried by the lay, and a link connecting said arm with the hunter rock shaft, said arm having a lateral stud engaging the latch member aforesaid.

15. In a loom for weaving double pile fabric, drive means; a starting handle for controlling the drive means; a member whereby the handle may be locked in operative position with the loom running; stationary shuttle boxes at opposite sides of the loom respectively affording receptacles for shuttles individually assigned to the upper and lower sheds formed by the warp yarns incident to the weaving of the double pile fabric; shuttle checks associated with the respective shuttle boxes; picker means for throwing the shuttles concurrently in opposite directions from the respective boxes; a lay confined to reciprocatory movement in a straight substantially horizontal plane in the interval between the stationary shuttle boxes; a rotary actuating cam for the lay; a follower slidingly coordinated with the lay and engaging the rotary actuating cam; a spring-urged latch member pivoted on the follower and normally locking the lay to said follower; and protector mechanism including daggers supported for independent pivotal movement on a fixed part of the loom and independently controlled by the shuttle checks associated with the receptacles of the respective shuttle boxes, a rock shaft with a hunter arm carried by the lay, a pivoted arm also carried by the lay, a link connecting said arm with the hunter rock shaft, said arm having a lateral stud engaging the latch member aforesaid, and a trip element for the member locking the starting handle of the loom.

16. In a loom for weaving double pile fabric, drive means; a starting handle for controlling the drive means; a member whereby the handle may be locked in its operative position with the loom running; stationary shuttle boxes at opposite sides of the loom respectively affording receptacles for shuttles individually assigned to the upper and lower sheds formed by the warp yarns incident to the weaving of the double pile fabric; picker means for throwing the shuttles concurrently in opposite directions from the shuttle boxes; a lay movable back and forth in the interval between the stationary shuttle boxes; means for actuating the lay; means releasably connecting the lay to its actuating means; and protector means including daggers supported for independent pivotal movement on a fixed part of the loom and independently controlled by the shuttle checks associated with the receptacles of the respective shuttle boxes, a rock shaft carried by the lay, a bunter arm on said shaft, a finger also on the lay rock shaft capable of coacting with stops on a fixed part of the loom, a pivoted arm on the lay, a link connecting said arm with the bunter rock shaft, said arm having a lateral stud engaging the latch member aforesaid, and a trip member for the means locking the starting handle of the loom.

WHITWORTH F. BIRD. WILLIAM R. HEWTON. 

